South African Producer Xoliswa Sithole, has become the first South African to be awarded a British Academy Television Award (BAFTA), at the glittering ceremony held in London at the Theatre Royal on the evening Sunday the 17th of April.
Sithole was honoured for her involvement as Associate Producer on the documentary Orphans of Nkandla directed by Brian Woods & Deborah Shipley of True Vision Productions (UK). Woods, Shipley and Sithole were awarded the prestigious FLAHERTY AWARD FOR SINGLE DOCUMENTARY ahead of four other nominees.
The AIDS pandemic has orphaned around a three-quarter million children in South Africa alone.
Orphans of Nkandla is a feature length documentary that chronicles a tale of heartbreaking pathos and breathtaking beauty, as we witness human tragedy unfurl against a backdrop of vast landscapes and rustic poverty.
Set in the heart of rural Zululand, all the benefits of western civilisation in one of the wealthiest countries in Africa have little effect here. Where the tarmac ends, so does the running water and electricity; nutritious food is a luxury; medical choices are made on cost and availability rather than necessity.
Alone, stigmatised and grieving, Orphans of Nkandla tells the story of some of those children.
Sithole is no newcomer to this arena having already made her mark with Shouting Silent, a personal story of how Aids affected her family.
"This is a great, great, and great, moment for me and for this film to receive this honour! HIV and Aids have such a devastating effect on our continent, country and our people, especially women and children. I hope that winning this award is going to help increase rallying for support for all of us to help tackle this pendamic. This is a human disaster and which only humans can stop" said a tearful Sithole speaking from London. The film has already raised more than a million pounds for aids orphans and vulnerable children in South Africa and the money keeps coming in!
Sithole's next project which is she has already started shooting is another personal documentary where she travels back to rediscover Zimbabwe a land that she grew up in during the years of Apartheid. Sithole is one of the few filmmakers that have been granted an interview by Robert Mugabe.
For further information please contact;
Xoliswa Sithole
E-mail: [email protected]
Posted on Wednesday 20 Apr 2005
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